Ji Yun

Ji Yun (1724–1805), courtesy name Xiaolan and literary name Shiyun, was a native of Xian County in Zhili during the Qing dynasty. A jinshi of 1754, he rose to the posts of Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary, and served for over a decade as chief compiler of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, directing the compilation of the Annotated Catalog of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. This work gave him wide access to books, and his catalog entries, which trace textual sources and assess strengths and weaknesses, remain an important guide to classical literature. His own writings include Random Notes from the Thatched Cottage of Close Reading, brief sketches of anecdotes and strange tales that carry moral lessons in a plain, thought-provoking style, as well as the Collected Works of Ji Wenda. He was posthumously honored with the title Wenda. His works span bibliography and miscellaneous notes, and have influenced both classical literature and scholarship.